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NEW YORK — At the top of his victory speech at a Brooklyn theater late Tuesday, Zohran Mamdani — the 34-year-old democratic socialist just elected New York’s next mayor — spoke of power being gripped by the bruised and calloused hands of working Americans, away from the wealthy elite.

“Tonight, against all odds, we have grasped it,” he said. “The future is in our hands.”

The imagery was apropos of the night more broadly — when a beaten-down Democratic Party, still nursing its wounds from a wipeout by President Trump a year ago, forcefully took back what some had worried was lost to them for good: momentum.

From coast to coast Tuesday night, American voters delivered a sharp rebuke to Trump and his MAGA movement, electing Democrats in important state and local races in New York, New Jersey and Virginia and passing a major California ballot measure designed to put more Democrats in Congress in 2026.

The results — a reversal of the party’s fortunes in last year’s presidential election, when Trump swept the nation’s swing states — arrived amid deep political division and entrenched Republican power in Washington. Many voters cited Trump’s agenda, and related economic woes, as motivating their choices at the ballot box.

The wins hardly reflected a unified Democratic Party nationally, or even a shared left-wing vision for a future beyond Trump. If anything, Mamdani’s win was a challenge to the Democratic Party establishment as much as a rejection of Trump.

His vision for the future is decidedly different than that of other, more moderate Democrats who won elsewhere in the country, such as Abigail Spanberger, the 46-year-old former CIA officer whom Virginians elected as their first female governor, or Mikie Sherrill, the 53-year-old former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor who won the race for New Jersey governor.

Still, the cascade of victories did evoke for many Democrats and progressives a political hope that they hadn’t felt in a while: a sense of optimism that Trump and his MAGA movement aren’t unstoppable after all, and that their own party’s ability to resist isn’t just alive and well but gaining speed.

“Let me underscore, it’s been a good evening — for everybody, not just the Democratic Party. But what a night for the Democratic Party,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said during his own remarks on the national wins. “A party that is in its ascendancy, a party that’s on its toes, no longer on its heels.”

“I hope it’s the first of many dominoes that are going to happen across this country,” Noah Gotlib, 29, of Bushwick said late Tuesday at a victory party for Mamdani. “I hope there’s a hundred more Zohrans at a local, state, federal level.”

On a night of big wins, Mamdani’s nonetheless stood out as a thunderbolt from the progressive left — a full-throated rejection not just of Trump but of Mamdani’s mainstream Democratic opponent in the race: former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Mamdani — a Muslim, Ugandan-born state assemblyman of Indian descent — beat Cuomo first in the Democratic ranked-choice primary in June. Cuomo, bolstered by many of New York’s moneyed interests afraid of Mamdani’s ideas for taxing the rich and spending for the poor, reentered the race as an independent.

Trump attacked Mamdani time and again as a threat. He said Monday that he would cut off federal funding to New York if Mamdani won. He even took the dramatic step of endorsing Cuomo over Curtis Sliwa, the Republican in the race, in a last-ditch effort to block Mamdani’s stunning political ascent.

Instead, city voters surged to the polls and delivered Mamdani a resounding win.

“To see him rise above all of these odds to actually deliver a vision of something that could be better, that was what really attracted me to the [Democratic Socialists of America] in the first place,” said Aminata Hughes, 31, of Harlem, who was dancing at an election-night party when Mamdani was announced the winner.

“A better world is possible,” the native New Yorker said, “and we’re not used to hearing that from our politicians.”

In trademark Trump fashion, the president dismissed the wins by his rival party, suggesting they were a result of two factors: the ongoing federal shutdown, which he has blamed on Democrats, and the fact that he wasn’t personally on people’s ballots.

Stephen Miller, one of Trump’s chief advisors, posted a paragraph to social media outlining the high number of mixed-status immigrant families in New York being impacted by the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and mass deportation campaign, which Miller has helped lead.

Democrats in some ways agreed. They pointed to the shutdown and other disruptions to Americans’ safety and financial security as motivating the vote. They pointed to Trump’s immigration tactics as being an affront to hard-working families. And they pointed to Trump himself — not on the ballot but definitely a factor for voters, especially after he threatened to cut off funds to New York if the city voted for Mamdani again.

“President Trump has threatened New York City if we dare stand up to him. The people of New York came together and we said, ‘You don’t threaten New York,’” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). “We’re going to stand up to bullies and thugs in the White House.”

“Today we said ‘no’ to Donald Trump and ‘yes’ to democracy,” New Jersey Democratic Chair LeRoy J. Jones Jr. told a happy crowd at Sherrill’s watch party.

“Congratulations to all the Democratic candidates who won tonight. It’s a reminder that when we come together around strong, forward-looking leaders who care about the issues that matter, we can win,” former President Obama wrote on social media. “We’ve still got plenty of work to do, but the future looks a little bit brighter.”

In addition to winning the New York mayoral and New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races, Democrats outperformed Republicans in races across the country. They held several seats on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and won the Virginia attorney general’s race. In California, voters passed Proposition 50, a ballot measure giving state Democrats the power to redraw congressional districts in their favor ahead of next year’s midterms.

Newsom and other Democrats had made Proposition 50 all about Trump from the beginning, framing it as a direct response to Trump trying to steal power by convincing red states such as Texas to redraw their own congressional lines in favor of Republicans.

Trump has been direct about trying to shore up Republicans’ slim majority in the House, to help ensure they retain power and are able to block Democrats from thwarting his agenda. And yet, he has suggested California’s own redistricting effort was illegal and a “GIANT SCAM” under “very serious legal and criminal review.”

Trump had also gone after several of the Democrats who won on Tuesday directly. In addition to Mamdani, Trump tried to paint Spanberger and Sherrill as out-of-touch liberals too, attacking them over some of his favorite wedge issues such as transgender rights, crime and energy costs. Similar messaging was deployed by the candidates’ Republican opponents.

In some ways, Trump was going out on a political limb, trying to sway elections in blue states where his grip on the electorate is smaller and his influence is often a major motivator for people to get out and vote against him and his allies.

His weighing in on the races only added to the sense that the Democrats’ wins marked something bigger — a broader repudiation of Trump, and a good sign for Democrats heading into next year’s midterms.

Marcus LaCroix, 42, who voted for Proposition 50 at a polling site in Lomita on Tuesday evening, described it as “a counterpunch” to what he sees as the excesses and overreach of the Trump administration, and Trump’s pressure on red states to redraw their lines.

“A lot of people are very concerned about the redistricting in Texas,” he said. “But we can actually fight back.”

Ed Razine, 27, a student who lives in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn, was in class when he heard Mamdani won. Soon, he was celebrating with friends at Nowadays, a Bushwick dance club hosting an election watch party.

Razine said Mamdani’s win represented a “new dawn” in American politics that he hopes will spread to other cities and states across the country.

“For me, he does represent the future of the Democratic Party — the fact that billionaires can’t just buy our election, that if someone really cares to truly represent the everyday person, people will rise up and that money will not talk,” Razine said. “At the end of the day, people talk.”

The Associated Press and Times staff writer Connor Sheets contributed to this report.

A ‘major incident’ has been declared after multiple people were stabbed on board a train in Cambridgeshire that was heading to London King’s Cross. Here’s everything we know so far

A horrifying knife attack unfolded on a high-speed train heading towards London last night, leaving ten people hospitalised, nine of whom have life-threatening injuries.

The incident took place on Saturday, 1 November, on the 18.25 service from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, to London King’s Cross. Police received reports at 7.39pm that “multiple people had been stabbed on a train”, and armed police, paramedics, air ambulances and transport police rushed to Huntingdon station, where the train made an unscheduled stop for assistance.

While the train stopped at Huntingdon, some passengers said the attack took place shortly after the train left Peterborough station in Cambridgeshire, which is around 50 minutes from London. British Transport Police confirmed that 10 people were taken to hospital, with nine believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries. There have been no fatalities.

READ MORE: Huntingdon train stabbings: Counter-terror police investigate as ‘major incident’ declaredREAD MORE: Huntingdon horror as person ‘hanging out train door bleeding’ after mass stabbings

The terrifying train attacks are said to have involved a man carrying a large knife. Two people have been arrested over the stabbings, and one suspect is believed to have been shot with a taser.

Passengers recounted scenes of panic as people trampled over each other and hid in toilets to escape the carnage. One witness told The Times there was “blood everywhere” and people were getting “stamped” on by others as they tried to flee. “I heard some people shouting we love (you).”

Witness Olly Foster told the BBC he initially heard people shouting “run, run, there’s a guy literally stabbing everyone”, and believed it might have been a prank related to Halloween. He quickly realised it was not a prank when he noticed his hand was “covered in blood” as there was “blood all over the chair” he had leaned on.

An older man “blocked” the attacker from stabbing a younger girl, leaving him with a gash on his head and neck, Foster said. Passengers around him used jackets to try to stop the bleeding. Although it lasted 10 to 15 minutes in total, Foster said the incident “felt like forever”.

Another witness, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared the horror moment he saw a person “hanging out the train door bleeding”. They told The Mirror: “I was waiting for the 8:10pm train to Kings Cross when I spotted the train on the platform. I spotted someone hanging out the train door bleeding.

“I looked further up the platform and see people running towards me bleeding and panicking. I saw someone in a hoodie running towards us so I shouted for everyone to leave the station immediately, so I got people out the station with me and to a place of safety.”

In the early hours of this morning (2 November), the incident was escalated to a “major incident” and counter-terrorism police were brought in to support the investigation. The station remains closed with numerous train services cancelled.

British Transport Police said in a statement: “We can confirm that at 7.42pm today (1 November) British Transport Police were called to reports of a multiple stabbing on board the 6.25pm train service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross.

“Officers immediately attended Huntingdon station alongside paramedics.

“Armed police from Cambridgeshire Police boarded the train and arrested two people in connection to the incident who have been taken to police custody.

“Ten people have been taken to hospital with nine believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries. One is being treated for non life-threatening injuries. There have been no fatalities.

“This has been declared a major incident and Counter Terrorism Policing are supporting our investigation whilst we work to establish the full ci

rcumstances and motivation for this incident.”

As an investigation is underway, it is unclear at this time what caused the incident. In regard to this, Chief Superintendent Chris Casey issued a statement, which read: “This is a shocking incident and first and foremost my thoughts are with those who have been injured this evening and their families.

“We’re conducting urgent enquiries to establish what has happened, and it could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything further.

“At this early stage it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.

“Our response is ongoing at the station and will be for some time.

“Cordons are in place and trains are not currently running through the area, and there are also some road closures.”

A ‘major incident’ has been declared after multiple people were stabbed on board a train in Cambridgeshire that was heading to London King’s Cross. Here’s everything we know so far

A horrifying knife attack unfolded on a high-speed train heading towards London last night, leaving ten people hospitalised, nine of whom have life-threatening injuries.

The incident took place on Saturday, 1 November, on the 18.25 service from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, to London King’s Cross. Police received reports at 7.39pm that “multiple people had been stabbed on a train”, and armed police, paramedics, air ambulances and transport police rushed to Huntingdon station, where the train made an unscheduled stop for assistance.

While the train stopped at Huntingdon, some passengers said the attack took place shortly after the train left Peterborough station in Cambridgeshire, which is around 50 minutes from London. British Transport Police confirmed that 10 people were taken to hospital, with nine believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries. There have been no fatalities.

READ MORE: Huntingdon train stabbings: Counter-terror police investigate as ‘major incident’ declaredREAD MORE: Huntingdon horror as person ‘hanging out train door bleeding’ after mass stabbings

The terrifying train attacks are said to have involved a man carrying a large knife. Two people have been arrested over the stabbings, and one suspect is believed to have been shot with a taser.

Passengers recounted scenes of panic as people trampled over each other and hid in toilets to escape the carnage. One witness told The Times there was “blood everywhere” and people were getting “stamped” on by others as they tried to flee. “I heard some people shouting we love (you).”

Witness Olly Foster told the BBC he initially heard people shouting “run, run, there’s a guy literally stabbing everyone”, and believed it might have been a prank related to Halloween. He quickly realised it was not a prank when he noticed his hand was “covered in blood” as there was “blood all over the chair” he had leaned on.

An older man “blocked” the attacker from stabbing a younger girl, leaving him with a gash on his head and neck, Foster said. Passengers around him used jackets to try to stop the bleeding. Although it lasted 10 to 15 minutes in total, Foster said the incident “felt like forever”.

Another witness, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared the horror moment he saw a person “hanging out the train door bleeding”. They told The Mirror: “I was waiting for the 8:10pm train to Kings Cross when I spotted the train on the platform. I spotted someone hanging out the train door bleeding.

“I looked further up the platform and see people running towards me bleeding and panicking. I saw someone in a hoodie running towards us so I shouted for everyone to leave the station immediately, so I got people out the station with me and to a place of safety.”

In the early hours of this morning (2 November), the incident was escalated to a “major incident” and counter-terrorism police were brought in to support the investigation. The station remains closed with numerous train services cancelled.

British Transport Police said in a statement: “We can confirm that at 7.42pm today (1 November) British Transport Police were called to reports of a multiple stabbing on board the 6.25pm train service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross.

“Officers immediately attended Huntingdon station alongside paramedics.

“Armed police from Cambridgeshire Police boarded the train and arrested two people in connection to the incident who have been taken to police custody.

“Ten people have been taken to hospital with nine believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries. One is being treated for non life-threatening injuries. There have been no fatalities.

“This has been declared a major incident and Counter Terrorism Policing are supporting our investigation whilst we work to establish the full ci

rcumstances and motivation for this incident.”

As an investigation is underway, it is unclear at this time what caused the incident. In regard to this, Chief Superintendent Chris Casey issued a statement, which read: “This is a shocking incident and first and foremost my thoughts are with those who have been injured this evening and their families.

“We’re conducting urgent enquiries to establish what has happened, and it could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything further.

“At this early stage it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.

“Our response is ongoing at the station and will be for some time.

“Cordons are in place and trains are not currently running through the area, and there are also some road closures.”

WHEN Bobby Bolton packed up his life to travel the world two years ago, he didn’t expect to still be on the move – or to have found the places he has.

So far he’s travelled through 41 countries, and there’s one in particular that he encourages tourists to explore, and it’s well off the beaten track.

Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country in Central Asia with huge mountain ranges and crystal clear lakes.

It isn’t your classic holiday spot, but for anyone wanting a bit more than lazing about on a sun lounger, it might just be the perfect destination.

Talking to Sun Travel about his adventure, Bobby told us: “I would describe Kyrgyzstan as being Switzerland 200 years ago, there’s not a lot of development there but the scenery is fantastic.

“You can hike up the mountains, swim in the alpine lakes – it’s the best place and it’s really not touristy because there’s no infrastructure.

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“It’s raw beauty, and it’s really cheap. It’s a third of the price in the UK in terms of food and fuel, which is what we spend our money on.”

Bobby and his fiancée Marie ventured in the mountains where they were invited to eat with local horseman who lived off the land.

They make their own honey and milk, eat beef from the cattle, and grow their own vegetables.

For anyone travelling like Bobby, by truck or car, he also added that it’s very easy to park as you can do it “almost anywhere, by beautiful lake, or at the foot of mountains”.

Bobby, who is from Wigan, travels around the world in his huge truck – and manages to do it on around £35 a day spending their cash mostly on food and fuel.

You can read more about Bobby’s travels in his book, Truck It!: The Drive Around the World That Saved My Life – and keep up with his travels at one.life.truck.it.

It isn’t just Bobby talking about Kyrgyzstan.

Original Travel reveals that there’s a growing interest in the country for “savvy travellers looking for unspoilt, off the beaten track destinations”.

Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country in Central Asia bordering Kazakhstan, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan,

It’s surrounded by mountains as it’s part of the Tian Shan range which has some of the tallest peaks in the world – as high as 24,400 feet.

Other natural wonders include its alpine lakes, grassy plains and hot springs.

Amongst the landscapes are plenty of wildlife like snow leopards and Siberian ibex which are in the high mountains, and Tian Shan brown bears in forests. 

The country also supports many bird species like the Himalayan griffin vulture and golden eagles.

One popular spot is Fairytale Canyon, or to use its official name, Skazka Canyon, a desert-like landscape made from red sandstone.

One visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: “An amazing place to visit in Kyrgyzstan. Mesmerizing scenery.”

Another added: “One of the most beautiful places in Kyrgyzstan. If you want unforgettable photos, then you definitely need to come here, not far from the main highway. Everything was great and a lot of emotions.”

As for alpine lakes, Kyrgyzstan has over 2,000 of them – one of the more impressive ones is Issyk-Kul.

It’s the second-largest high-altitude lake in the world and is known as the ‘warm lake’ because it never fully freezes due to its high salt concentration.

The hot springs at Altyn Arashan have both paid and free options when it comes to taking a dip.

These are in a mountain valley so you have to get there on horseback or via a 4×4.

It’s not all wilderness, mountains and lakes, the capital of Kyrgyzstan is Bishkek in the north of the country.

Other bigger cities include Osh, Jalal-Abad, Karakol, Tokmok, and Kara-Balta, and these spots are where you’ll find hotels, restaurants and cafes.

And again, this will not break the bank, checking prices on Wise, a meal for two at a restaurants will set you back 1,500сом which in British pounds is £13.07.

The price of a beer is 100сом which is just 87p and a cappuccino is 175.24сом which is £1.53.

When it comes to getting there, Bishkek is where the main airport is, but you can’t fly directly there from the UK.

To get there, the easiest journey for Brits is to head to Istanbul in Turkey and take a connecting flight from there.

One of the quickest journeys is with Pegasus, who fly from London Stansted to Istanbul Sabiha, and an onward flight to Bishkek taking a total of 10 hours.

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Here are five lesser-visted coastal resorts that are crowd-free alternatives for 2026…

Black Sea Coast, Turkey

First up is the Black Sea Coast in Turkey, essentially the opposite side of the country to where you’ll find the likes of Antalya and Bodrum.

When it comes to attractions, some of the most popular sites are the Sumela Monastery which was built into a cliffside, and the Yedigoller National Park for natural beauty and lakes.

Northumberland, UK

The county was named by Airbnb as being one of the ‘trending’ beach destinations around the world.

The northern county of Northumberland has been getting lots of attention during summer 2025, with plenty of pretty beaches that are usually less busy than those in the south.

Trends suggest people are looking more towards the north in towns like Bamburgh and Embleton Bay. And an overnight stay in Northumberland can be as little as £45 per night.

Albanian Riviera, Albania

Albania is becoming more popular every year with some even calling it the affordable dupe of Italy‘s Amalfi coast. It’s cheaper, with incredible beaches, pretty towns and bustling cities.

In terms of affordability, in Albania, meals cost under £10 and accommodation averages £40 a night.

Black Sea Coast, Bulgaria

Just around the corner from Turkey is the Black Sea Coastline in Bulgaria where you’ll find cities like Varna in the north, and Burgas in the south.

In-between are popular resorts like Sunny Beach and Albena – which are known for their affordability. You don’t have to stick to the big resort towns though, there are other, quieter places like Nessebar, which is also one of the cheapest destinations in Europe.

Silver Coast, Portugal

There are plenty of beautiful places in Portugal and most of them are very well known like the Algarve which has golden beaches, and cities like Lisbon and Porto.

Just between those two cities is the Silver Coast which is more overlooked despite it being more affordable than other destinations. Here you’ll find the Aveiro, also called the ‘Venice of Portugal‘ because of its canals and gondola-style boats.

For more travel and money saving tips, Race Across the World winner Alfie Watts gives Sun Travel his best advice.

And check out the holiday destinations Sun Travel predicts will be HUGE in 2026 thanks to cheap hotels, flights and pints.

ONE Brit has shared her top spots in Majorca, after she was due to stay there for just six months… yet is still there 26 years later.

Diana Winskill originally left the UK for Spain back in 1999, for what was supposed to be a short stint as a TUI rep.

Yet, fast forward 26 years, she is still in Majorca.

She said: “I came here when I was 23 for what was supposed to be six months.

“I met my English born husband Chris here, we had two daughters, Imogen and Amelia and I’ve now lived in Majorca longer than I ever lived in the UK.”

She has even seen in that time what Brits love to do when in Majorca, including the all-inclusive holiday options.

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She added: “And then there’s bingo.

“Without fail, we have our loyal customers who love their bingo every evening.

“That’s never changed in my 26 years.”

When it comes to her favourite things to do in Majorca, Diana recommends heading to Sant Elm, which is a quiet coastal village in the south west of the island.

Diana said: “Sant Elm has a very relaxed vibe and beautiful turquoise waters.

“You can relax on the small sandy beach, enjoy lunch and sangria in one of the small restaurants or hop on a boat to Dragonera, a protected uninhabited island where you can find unique wildlife and great hiking routes.”

Another top spot for the TUI rep is Palma city.

She said: “You can’t miss the spectacular cathedral, but many people don’t know about the 11th century Arab baths just around the corner.

“It’s well worth the small entrance fee to experience this little piece of history and interesting architectural elements.”

She added that if you happen to visit Palma on the last Saturday of every month, then you can see the changing of the guard at the Almudaina Palace – which is next to the cathedral.

“This is a fantastic sight where soldiers from the Light infantry regiment of Palma recreate the historical guard shift wearing historical 18th century uniforms,” Diana revealed.

The ceremony includes muskets, sabres and drums and it takes place at midday and 7:30pm in July and August.

For another hidden spot, head to Inca, which is known for having the biggest weekly market on the island.

Or you could head to one of the most varied, vibrant and historical markets in Majorca – Sineu market – which takes place each Wednesday.

Diana shared: “Dating back almost 700 years you’ll find amazing local fruits and vegetables, farm animals, leather products and much more.”

Finally, Diana recommends going for a ride on the historic wooden train that started operating between Palma and the mountain town of Sóller in 1912.

She said: “Beautifully preserved, this charming train journey takes you through stunning countryside and up into the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Tramuntana mountains.

“From there you can take the vintage tram to the port area, and then a boat to the breathtaking Sa Calobra bay.

“It is a very spectacular day of sightseeing in the most untouched part of the island.”

Diana works at the adults-only Hotel Globales Santa Lucia, which is located between two sprawling beaches.

The resort is then just a five-minute walk into town and it has an indoor and an outdoor pool, a buffet restaurant and two bars.

She has also noticed how Brits want to do more excursions, such as seeing the markets in Majorca and experiencing the local culture.

She said: “TUI have so many to choose from with local guides who know the island back to front.”

And on the TUI app, travellers can see all their transfer times and can book experiences on their phones.

She added: “Even in winter, the average temperature only drops to 13 degrees, and you still get the most beautiful sunshine even in the colder months.

“My colleagues have become my family, and honestly, working around people on holiday is infectious because everyone’s so positive.”

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In other Spanish news, there will be vintage train to connect two cities next year – with a seaside stop along the way.

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In recent weeks, American politics have stopped resembling a democracy and started looking more like a Manson family group chat, with a flag emoji right next to the “pile of poo” emoji in our bio.

First it was the Young Republicans (you know, the nerds who used to wear ill-fitting sports jackets and drone on about budgets) who were caught on Telegram saying things such as “I love Hitler,” calling Black people “watermelon people,” and joking about gas chambers and rape. Hilarious, right?

Then came Paul Ingrassia, Trump’s now-aborted nominee to head the Office of Special Counsel, who texted that he has “a Nazi streak” and that Martin Luther King Jr. Day belongs in “the seventh circle of hell.”

But the moral rot isn’t exclusive to Republicans. Not to be outdone, Democrat Jay Jones (who is currently running for attorney general in Virginia) was caught with texts from 2022 saying another Virginia lawmaker should get “two bullets to the head,” and that he wished the man’s children would “die in their mother’s arms.”

Charming.

Meanwhile, in Maine’s race for the U.S. Senate, old posts on Reddit reveal that Democrat Graham Platner — oysterman, veteran and self-described communist — said that if people “expect to fight fascism without a good semi-automatic rifle, they ought to do some reading of history.”

Did I mention that he called police officers “bastards,” broadly criticized rural white folks and had a tattoo on his chest that resembled Nazi imagery?

What we are witnessing is a trend: Bipartisan moral collapse. Finally, something the two parties can agree on!

Keep in mind, these are not randos typing away in their parents’ basements. These are ambitious young politicos. Candidates. Operatives. The ones who are supposed to know better.

So what’s going on? I have a few theories.

One: Nothing has really changed. Political insiders have always done and said stupid, racist and cruel things — the difference is that privacy doesn’t exist anymore. Every joke is public, and every opinion is archived.

It might be hard for older generations to understand, but this theory says these people are merely guilty of using the kind of dark-web humor that’s supposed to stay on, well, the dark web. What happened to them is the equivalent of thinking you’re with friends at a karaoke bar, when you’re actually on C-SPAN.

For those of us trying to discern the difference, the problem is that the line between joking and confession has gotten so blurry that we can’t tell who’s trolling and who’s armed.

Two: Blame Trump. He destroyed norms and mainstreamed vulgarity and violent rhetoric. And since he’s been the dominant political force for a decade, it’s only logical that his style would trickle down and corrupt a whole generation of politically engaged Americans (Republicans who want to be like him and Democrats who want to fight fire with fire).

Three (and this is the scary one): Maybe the culture really has changed, and these violent and racist comments are revelatory of changing hearts and worldviews. Maybe younger generations have radicalized, and violence is increasingly viewed as a necessary tool for political change. Maybe their words are sincere.

Indeed, several recent surveys have demonstrated that members of Gen Z are more open to the use of political violence than previous generations.

According to a survey conducted by the group FIRE, only 1 in 3 college students now say it is unacceptable to use violence to stop a speaker. And according to the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer, “53 percent of those aged 18-34 – approve of one or more forms of hostile activism to bring about change.” This includes “threatening or committing violence, and damaging public or private property.”

Of course, it’s possible (and probably likely) that some combination of these theories has conspired to create this trend. And it comes on the heels of other trends, too, including the loss of trust in institutions that began somewhere around the Nixon administration and never reversed.

Put it all together, and we’ve arrived at a point where we don’t believe in democracy, we don’t believe in leaders, and we barely believe in each other. And once you lose trust, all that’s left is anger, memes and a primal will to power.

Worse, we’ve become numb. Every new scandal shocks us for approximately 15 minutes. Then we scroll to another cat video and get used to it.

Remember the Charlie Kirk assassination? You know, the gruesome murder that freaked us all out and led to a national discussion about political violence and violent rhetoric? Yeah, that was just last month. Feels like it was back in the Eisenhower administration.

We’re basically frogs in a pot of boiling political sewage. And the scariest part? We’re starting to call it room temperature.

Matt K. Lewis is the author of “Filthy Rich Politicians” and “Too Dumb to Fail.”

A NETFLIX star and British rapper has been charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving after a fatal crash.

Justin Clarke-Samuel, who stars in Netflix series Supacell, allegedly failed to stop after hitting a 20-year-old man in Ilford, east London, on October 18.

The 41-year-old, who goes by the name Ghetts, appeared at Stratford Magistrates’ Court on Monday, the same day the man died in hospital.

The indictment could change from causing serious injury to causing death by dangerous driving at the next hearing.

The rapper, from Woodford Green, was remanded into custody and is due to appear at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Monday, October 27.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash to come forward.

The rapper has featured alongside Skepta, Stormzy and Ed Sheeran, racking up millions of hits on Spotify.

In 2024 he performed at Glastonbury. In 2008, Ghetts was nominated for a BET Award for Best International Act: UK along with Chipmunk, Giggs, and Skepta.

His music has since been played on national radio stations including BBC Radio 1, Kiss 100 and BBC Radio1Extra.

Clarke-Samuel has toured internationally with Top Bar star and fellow rapper Kano, and was a member of East London British grime group Nasty Crew.

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The ruins of the abandoned village of Tide Mills can still be seen today, nestled between Newhaven and Seaford in East Sussex. It was once a thriving hub home to many families

A seaside town that was once buzzing with life is now a mere ghost of what it once was after its inhabitants were forced to leave.

Today, Tide Mills in Sussex is little more than crumbled bricks and mortar. In fact, you’d be forgiven for not realising that a town once stood on this spot of tranquil marshland. Yet less than a century ago, this tiny part of the south coast was filled with industry and village life.

As the name implies, the tight-knit community was built around a tidal mill that began operating in 1761. At first, it was a small affair, with local men loading barges with corn and wheat and women darning the flour sacks. They lived in a handful of cottages built around the mill.

Bloody drama befell Tide Mills in 1795 when hungry English troops fighting in the Napoleonic Wars stole 200 sacks of flour from the town, leading to their swift capture and execution.

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A decade later, the town was expanded significantly when William Catt purchased the mill. The industrialist was fascinated by exotic fruit and built a massive greenhouse where he grew figs and pineapples, according to the Tide Mills Project

It wasn’t all fun, games and tasty fruit, however. Catt ran the village with an iron fist, building walls around it and setting a tight 10.10 pm curfew when the gates were locked. On one occasion, some villagers arrived back from the pub 10 minutes late, prompting Catt to stop their beer tokens and ban them from leaving the village for a month.

Two major events signalled the beginning of the end of prosperity for Tide Mills. In 1864, the railway network extended to Seaford, making it cheaper and easier for farmers to send their grain to London to be milled. Just over a decade later, a huge storm caused a great deal of damage to the mill, including filling much of its pond with stones from the beach. It never got back up to full capacity.

“The way people lived changed a lot over the life of Tide Mills, especially when the Mill stopped working for good in 1883. The Mill, which provided work for so many men, had stopped and the beating heart of the village fell silent. The Mill buildings were converted and used as warehouses where some of the men continued to work,” the Tide Mills Project writes.

Slowly, community cornerstones such as the school, blacksmith, and carpenters began to disappear from the village. But the people stayed, surviving as best they could.

In the early decades of the 20th century, Tide Mills had a bit of a rebirth. A large radio mast was built there to guide ships, while a seaplane station base opened in 1917, bringing army traffic and soldiers, noise, and two big hangars for the planes on the beach.

However, the end of the settlement loomed ever closer. In 1930, Parliament passed a Housing Act that permitted local authorities to condemn housing as unfit for human habitation.

A lack of work and investment saw Tide Mills fall into disrepair. In 1936, a petition to evict the villagers from Tide Mills was launched in response to concern that the homes there were no longer fit for living. In 1937, a headline in the Daily Mail read ‘The Hamlet of Horror’, and described the squalor in which residents lived. It highlighted a lack of running water, sewage facilities and electricity.

Water was sourced from a single standpipe shared by all six houses, general waste was removed and discarded into the sea, and each house had a small outside building containing an earth closet whose contents had to be emptied and carried to the sea.

Later that year, Seaford council deemed the village of Tide Mills as unfit for habitation. It issued an eviction order, giving the residents nine months to move out. Everyone at Tide Mills, including Chailey Marine Hospital, was evicted. Those who refused to leave were forcibly evicted in 1940.

Today, it’s a challenge to distinguish the remnants of the buildings among the ruins that still stand. The only house that can be clearly identified is Station House, situated at the northern end of the village near the railway line.

In 1940, Stan Tubb, a war veteran, was permitted to remain for an additional two months due to his specialised knowledge that proved useful to the troops stationed there during WWII.

All buildings in the village and hospital were demolished as they would have obstructed the view of defending soldiers and hindered their ability to fire upon invaders.

Today, the ruins are open for exploration and Tide Mills is a popular walking and cycling route.

Following the September assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, United States President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have shaped their political agenda by blaming the left for political violence.

“Political violence, it’s just a statistical fact that it’s a bigger problem on the left,” Vance said while guest-hosting The Charlie Kirk Show podcast on October 15 in the aftermath of Kirk’s killing. About a minute later, he added, “Right now that violent impulse is a bigger problem on the left than the right.”

A Vance spokesperson did not answer our questions. When referring to left-wing violence, a White House spokesperson recently pointed to a September 28 Axios article about a study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a nonprofit policy research organisation.

Democrats, calling your political opponents Nazis has consequences.

Study: Left-wing terrorism climbs to 30-year highhttps://t.co/30NvIj9nzC

— Abigail Jackson (@ATJackson47) September 28, 2025

The study found that “2025 marks the first time in more than 30 years that left-wing terrorist attacks outnumber those from the violent far right”. The study also showed that for the 30 years before 2025, right-wing attacks had outpaced left-wing violence.

“The rise in left-wing attacks merits increased attention, but the fall in right-wing attacks is probably temporary, and it too requires a government response,” the authors wrote in the study.

Vance’s statement oversimplified political violence and drew from part of one study of a six-month period. The federal government has no single, official definition of “political violence”, and ascribing ideologies such as the left wing and the right wing is sometimes complicated. There is no agreed upon number of left- or right-wing politically violent attacks.

Research before 2025 largely points to higher levels of right-wing violence over longer periods of time.

Trump has used the administration’s statements about rising left-wing violence to label antifa as a domestic “terrorist threat”, and administration officials also said they will investigate what they call left-wing groups that fund violence.

Although political violence is a small subset of violent crime in the US, it “has a disproportionate impact because even rare incidents can amplify fear, influence policy and deepen societal polarisation”, sociology professors at the University of Dayton, Arthur Jipson and Paul J Becker, wrote in September after Kirk’s assassination.

In an email interview with PolitiFact, Becker said the report in question “indicates there MAY be a shift occurring from the Right being more violent but 5 vs 1 incidents in 6 months isn’t enough to completely erase years of data and reports from multiple sources showing the opposite or to dictate new policies”.

Study examined three decades of political violence

The CSIS, a national security and defence think tank, published a September report examining 750 “terrorist” attacks and plots in the US between 1994 and July 4, 2025.

The report defined “terrorism” as the use or threat of violence “with the intent to achieve political goals by creating a broad psychological impact”.

The authors wrote that it is difficult to pinpoint some perpetrators’ ideologies, which in some cases are more of what former FBI Director Christopher Wray called a “salad bar of ideologies”. For example, Thomas Crooks, who allegedly attempted to assassinate Trump in 2024, searched the internet more than 60 times for Trump and then-President Joe Biden in the month before the attack.

The full CSIS report gave a more complete picture of politically motivated violence:

• Left-wing violence has risen from low levels since 2016. “It has risen from very low levels and remains much lower than historical levels of violence carried out by right-wing and jihadist attackers.”
• Right-wing attacks sharply declined in 2025, perhaps because right-wing extremist grievances such as opposition to abortion, hostility to immigration and suspicion of government agencies are “embraced by President Trump and his administration”. The report quotes Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys leader pardoned by Trump, who said, “Honestly, what do we have to complain about these days?”
• Left-wing attacks have been less deadly than right-wing attacks. In the past decade, left-wing attacks have killed 13 people, compared with 112 by right-wing attackers. The report cited several reasons, including that left-wing attackers often choose targets that are protected, such as government or law enforcement facilities, and target specific individuals.
• The number of incidents by the left is small. A graphic in the report showing the rise in left-wing attacks in 2025 as of July 4 is visually striking. It is based on a small number of incidents: four attacks and one disrupted plot.

Studies have not uniformly agreed on some attackers’ ideological classifications. The libertarian Cato Institute categorised the person charged in the shooting deaths of two Israeli embassy staffers in May 2025 as “left-wing”, while the CSIS study described the motivation as “ethnonationalist”. Ethnonationalism is a political ideology based on heritage, such as ethnic identity, which can create clashes with other groups. The Cato study counted only deaths, while the CSIS analysis was not limited to deaths.

“While Vance’s statement has a factual anchor for that limited timespan, it selectively emphasises one short-term slice rather than the broader trend,” Jipson, of the University of Dayton, told PolitiFact. “In that sense, it can be misleading: It may give the impression that left-wing violence is generally now more dangerous or prevalent, which is not borne out by the longer view of the data.”

The Cato analysis, published after Kirk’s death, said 3,597 people were killed in politically motivated US “terrorist” attacks from January 1, 1975, through September 10, 2025.

Cato found right-wing attacks were more common than left-wing violence. This research has been highlighted by some House Democrats.

Wrong again, JD. The data is clear: for decades, right-wing extremism has been the greater threat.https://t.co/TkxBZ08Xjg https://t.co/PCWv4EuP4H

— House Homeland Security Committee Democrats (@HomelandDems) October 15, 2025

Cato wrote that during that period, “terrorists” inspired by what it called “Islamist ideology” were responsible for 87 percent of people killed in attacks on US soil, while right-wing attackers accounted for 11 percent and left-wing “terrorists” accounted for about 2 percent. Excluding the September 11, 2001 attacks showed right-wing attackers were responsible for a majority of deaths. Measuring homicides since 2020 also showed a larger number by the right than the left.

Our ruling

Vance said, “Political violence, it’s just a statistical fact that it’s a bigger problem on the left.”

He did not point to a source, but a White House spokesperson separately cited an article about a study that examined political violence from 1994 to July 4, 2025. It found that, in the first six months of 2025, left-wing attacks outnumbered those by the right. It is based on a small number of incidents: four attacks and one disrupted plot.

The study also showed that for 30 years before 2025, right-wing attacks had outpaced left-wing attacks.

The study detailed that the left wing “remains much lower than historical levels of violence carried out by right-wing and jihadist attackers”. Research before 2025 largely points to higher levels of right-wing violence over longer periods of time.

The statement contains an element of truth because left-wing violence rose in the first six months of 2025. However, it ignores that right-wing violence was higher for a much longer period of time.

We rate this statement Mostly False.

Chief correspondent Louis Jacobson contributed to this fact-check.

CITY boy David Beckham has spent the best part of a decade becoming a country gent — and is now proudly sharing his new lifestyle in an iconic magazine.

He has turned a Cotswolds farmhouse into the perfect family home and is pictured wandering its idyllic sprawling grounds with his working Cocker Spaniels Sage and Olive.

The father of four, nicknamed Goldenballs in his playing days, has planted hundreds of trees, put up 27 bee hives and created a lake with duck house and wooden jetty.

In a special edition of Country Life, he tells how he keeps chickens and has a vegetable plot, where he tends onions, radishes, carrots and kale.

East London-born David tells how he counts fellow converts Vinnie Jones and Guy Ritchie among his country friends.

But he recalls: “My earliest memories of doing anything in the countryside are when I was a Cub, then a Scout, and we used to go camping in Epping Forest.”

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His kitchen fitter dad Ted and hairdresser mum Sandra did not have much time for gardening — though grandad Joe would tend to the roses, often damaged by the young David kicking a ball about.

The 50-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid star’s interest in country pursuits grew after meeting Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels director Guy, 57.

The ex-England skipper even made a cameo appearance in Ritchie’s 2017 flop King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword.

David says about Guy: “He’s a modern-day caveman, who has made me fall far deeper in love with the countryside and helped me to understand it even more than I did before.

“Sometimes, we sit for hours around a fire, just the two of us, and talk late into the night.”

Ritchie’s sweeping 1,100-acre estate Ashcombe House in Wiltshire is the inspiration for what David is trying to achieve.

And it was during late nights at the homely Georgian property that Becks got to know footballer-turned-actor Vinnie, who has appeared in a number of the director’s projects.

Guest editing 128-year-old Country Life, David admits: “When I was playing, he was one of those footballers you did not want to go near on the pitch.

“He would either grab you, throw you or kick you!

Sometimes, we sit for hours around a fire, just the two of us, and talk late into the night

David Beckham

“Back then, that was his thing and he made a successful career before becoming a pundit, when he did criticise me.

“I didn’t think he liked me. But when I met him later at Guy’s place, we didn’t stop talking.”

‘Solace in the country’

Former Wimbledon hardman Vinnie, 60, has a 147-acre farm in Petworth, West Sussex.

David adds: “He bought me a walking stick he’d made for me and he’s now a great friend, who, like me, has found solace in the country later in life.”

The three stars are now happiest in tweeds and welly boots, a world away from the glamorous lifestyles which made them famous.

Vinnie used to booze too much but tells how he prefers a teetotal life.

He comments: “You’ve got to commit. Do it on a Monday.

“Everyone who has done it says, ‘I wish I’d done it before’.

“You never hear anyone regret ­giving up booze.”

For the main article in the magazine — marking its 1,000th edition with a 288-page gold embossed issue — David, his tattooed hands ­poking from his cuffs, gives TV gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh a tour of the family estate

He and fashion designer wife Victoria, 51, bought the farm near Great Tew, in Oxfordshire, for £6million in 2016. It is now estimated to be worth twice that sum.

They have turned a 26-acre plot with one maple tree and a few derelict barns into a landscape of wildflower meadows, native trees and shrubland that form a home for insects and birds.

Proud David reveals: “I can still remember the morning when Victoria and the children were all due to arrive to see the refurbished barns for the first time.

The moment she walked in, she burst out crying

David Beckham

“It was still a complete mess. One of the guys, who was helping with the building work, and I were literally running around laying the rugs, sweeping up and getting all the dust out.

“Then I waited at the front door with a glass of wine for Victoria to arrive.

“And, the moment she walked in, she burst out crying because she couldn’t believe how perfect it was.”

Now the couple often serve their home-grown ingredients in meals served for friends and family.

And in the magazine, David gives the Queen’s son, Tom Parker Bowles, a taste of his culinary skills.

David, originally from Leytonstone, tells Tom: “There’s something so nostalgic about mashed potato, liver, bacon and lots of gravy.

“It’s one of those British comfort classics that my mum used to make for me and was also my grandad’s favourite dish.

“My gran was also a great cook, and it was always a treat going down to the pie and mash shop in Chapel Market.

“If I had to choose my last meal, it would be pie, mash, liquor and ­jellied eels.”

Previous guest editors of the Country Life have included King Charles, and the most featured face on the cover in the past was the late Queen Mother.

In his cover shot, David looks every bit the rural gent, leaning on a ram’s horn cane and dressed in a tweed jacket.

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American celebrities such as Beyonce, Jay-Z and Ellen DeGeneres have since followed the Beckhams to the Cotswolds — and it is easy to see why.

• David Beckham’s Guest Edit of Country Life is available now.

Brandy and Monica, the once-feuding stars of R&B, are singing each others’ praises after their reunion tour hit an unexpected hurdle over the weekend.

Singer-actor Brandy sent virtual flowers to “my sister, Monica, for stepping up with such grace and professionalism” as she explained her abrupt exit from the duo’s Chicago concert on Saturday. The “Cinderella” star, 46, turned heads at the Chicago’s United Center when she walked off stage mid-performance, according to video shared by TMZ, leaving Monica to finish performing their Grammy-winning hit “The Boy Is Mine,” solo.

“I sincerely apologize for the abrupt end to last night’s performance in Chicago. After weeks of nonstop rehearsals, last night I experienced dehydration and feelings of wanting to faint,” Brandy said in an Instagram statement shared Sunday. “Everyone involved agreed that prioritizing my well-being was of the utmost importance.”

The “Afrodisiac” artist explained that it was her decision to push forward with the concert, “despite not feeling OK.” Even after making “some adjustments,” Brandy said it was ultimately “impossible to fully connect sonically with the production.” The “Missing You” singer said she left the arena and was treated by a doctor and has “taken the proper precautions to help moving forward.”

Brandy and Monica announced their co-headlining Boy Is Mine tour in June and kicked off the shows Thursday in Cincinnati. They are set to perform at the Kia Forum on Nov. 9.

A day after her sudden walk-off, Brandy was back on stage Sunday with Monica at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. She shared photos from their latest gig to Instagram on Monday.

“You absolutely killed it last night @brandy,” Monica said in her Instagram story on Monday, reposting the singer’s photos.

Brandy and Monica embarked on their Boy Is Mine tour 27 years after releasing the namesake single in 1998. The singers, who shared a contentious relationship notably defined by an alleged altercation at the VMAs in 1998, earned a Grammy award for the hit.

Before launching their tour, Brandy and Monica had reunited several times for several projects, including a remix of their hit with Ariana Grande and a 2020 appearance on “Verzuz.” While promoting the tour in June, Monica told CBS Mornings that their feud “started as nothing and it really did turn into something.”

“There was a lot of confusion and conflict and there was a lot of people around,” she said, adding that she and Brandy were merely teenagers when their feud came to a head.

The Boy Is Mine tour continues Friday with a stop in Nashville and will conclude Dec. 14 at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla.

Staff writer Julius Miller contributed to this report.

Vicky Pattison left fans in stitches after her Strictly partner Kai Widdrington exposed how she acts during rehearsals on the Get A Grip podcast

Strictly Come Dancing star Vicky Pattison’s partner Kai Widdrington has revealed a hilarious behind-the-scenes habit.

Appearing together on the Get A Grip podcast hosted by Angela Scanlon, 41, and the TV star, 30, Kai teased that his celebrity partner pulls funny facial expressions during training. “We discovered this week the ‘Stank face’,” the 30-year-old joked. “When she’s really trying she’ll (acts it out).”

To which Vicky replied: “It’s like a toddler doing a poo. It’s awful. And I am not proud of it. I’m really upset.” Angela chimed in, “It is like an upside-down puppy,” while Vicky agreed, laughing, “Yeah… it’s like an old man.” This week, Vicky has been candid about the pressures of the competition. In a recent interview with Women’s Health UK, the 37-year-old admitted training has felt like “a baptism of fire.”

“All the pros are carved like angels, and I’m there sweating away in my gym gear,” she said.

“It’s both intimidating and overwhelming. But as you get older, you don’t often get the opportunity to get out of your comfort zone. I like to prove I’m capable.”

While she’s built physical strength through weight training, Pilates, and charity treks, Vicky fears it’s the cardio that might hold her back. “Everyone is so fit,” she added.

Reflecting on her earlier reality TV days, Vicky said she felt less pressure entering the I’m A Celebrity… jungle in 2015, saying, “When you went into the jungle, everyone thought you were an arsehole, but you knew you could go in and change people’s perceptions,” a friend once told her.

“Now I’ve spent 10 years working to show people that I was young, making mistakes, and I wasn’t the best version of myself… I’m scared that under this spotlight, I’ll mess up.”

The Heart radio presenter also revealed she’s returned to therapy. “Maybe it’s working-class feelings of being undeserving. Maybe it’s deep-rooted self-doubt. I don’t know what it is, but it’s all come back,” she said.

Last week on Strictly Come Dancing, the Geordie Shore star and her partner performed a Gatsby‑themed Charleston and earned a total of 25 points from the judges, despite receiving mixed feedback from the judges.

For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

ICONIC mustard company Colman’s have launched a mouthwatering new snack which are set to fly off store shelves.

Punters will be racing to their local store to nab the mustard manufacturer’s Honey Mustard Flavoured Peanuts and Cashews.

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“Crack into bold flavour, brand new Colman’s nuts,” the company wrote on its Instagram account.

“Roasted, seasoned and ready to shake up your snack game.

“Are you nuts enough?!”

A bag of the moreish treats will start at £3.

And snack lovers are clearly excited for the bags to drop.

“I need those,” one wrote.

A second weighed in: “These look so good!”

It comes after news that family favourite Turkey Twizzlers have been quietly axed — two decades after TV chef Jamie Oliver’s campaign saw them banned in school canteens.

The controversial snack disappeared from shop shelves without an official announcement from makers Bernard Matthews Foods.

Twizzlers launched in 1997, but got the chop in 2005 after Jamie’s healthy-eating “Feed Me Better” campaign for school meals.

He highlighted how they only contained 34 per cent meat, but lots of other additives.

An online petition for their return gained 28,000 signatures in 2018, before a healthier version was relaunched in 2020, containing 63 per cent turkey.

The relaunch saw a statue of a Twizzler erected outside Bernard Matthews Foods’ headquarters in Norfolk.

WALKERS DISAPPOINTMENT

And Walkers have discontinued a popular crisp flavour – leaving fans desperately searching the shelves for the discontinued product.

Max Texan BBQ was launched in partnership with Pizza Hut back in 2023 but it has now made way for the release of new crisp flavours.

One disappointed fan wrote on social media site X.com: “Why can’t I find Walkers Max Pizza Hut Texan BBQ Crisps in the supermarket?

“I usually buy a bag each time I shop as they are a favourite in my house. I haven’t seen them for at least 6 weeks.”

Walkers confirmed the flavour is no longer part of its offering.

But it isn’t all doom and gloom for crisps fans.

This week, Walkers dropped two brand new flavours which are out for a limited time.

The snack giant is shaking things up with two bold new additions hitting shelves across the UK.

That it took until Sunday’s three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women’s 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow (OK, Australia gold) over the past 50 years.

It is hard for their batters to hold a record if never given the chance.

Ultimately, the result of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to produce her latest masterpiece.

Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.

A T20 World Cup win came three months after her bow and seven world titles have followed from 10 attempts across formats.

The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the run of success.

That loss “drove us to rethink our standards,” Healy said this week.

At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not fall short again.

Whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort can be debated.

Some will argue the case for the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What is certain is this century was far harder to see coming.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.

“If you’ve been watching me in the nets, it’s been a frustrating experience because I feel like I’ve had no rhythm whatsoever,” said Healy.

“But once you step out on the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you just lock into the contest.”

TWO BIG Brother stars seemingly broke the rules in an unaired live stream moment.

A television news and fan account on X has revealed that two of the housemates broke Big Brother‘s rules by using code names to talk about who they wanted booted out next.

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One of the biggest rules in the Big Brother house is talking about nominations.

In a livestream which aired this weekend, Sam and Nancy were the two housemates to break the rules.

Using code names, the pair said that one of their fellow co-stars was “fake” while using a code name to describe her.

The TV news and fan account said on X: “So I’m just catching up on what’s gone down on the first hour of live streaming…

“Sam and Nancy broke the rules using code names, and they said they want Jenny evicted next, and that she’s fake – all of which Big Brother read back to the house.

“Jenny has then been left ‘so angry’ that she cried, and that she knew she’d get nominated if the house is split in two or something.

“Also Tate was involved in a convo with Nancy slagging off Jenny and Nancy got caught lying about it literally on the live stream????

“And to top it off, Elsa is jealous that Jenny confided in Marcus about it all.”

Fans reacted to the revelation, with one saying: “First and only time I want Jenny to face eviction. She would be iconic in the secret room.”

Another added: “Jenny is a threat, that’s my only explanation for the Jenny slander.”

While a third said: “I don’t understand why contestants break the rules. The rules were explained to them. If they’ve seen past seasons they know housemates get in trouble for rule breaking.”

And a fourth penned: “Ew nancy is so bitter, why is she being like this ??”

This comes after three housemates – Richard, Elsa and Cameron B – faced possible elimination in Friday’s episode.

Cameron B ultimately became the third housemate to be evicted this series.

The 25-year-old from Bolton entered the House on Day Two, alongside three other newcomers.

Axed star George Gilbert, 23, had also been on the chopping block before his shock exit.

The Sun revealed how the parish councillor was removed after ‘unacceptable language and behaviour’.

Sources told The Sun that George left his co-stars horrified after making offensive comments which could be interpreted as antisemitic and was immediately called to the Diary Room and ejected from the house. 

“Everyone was absolutely disgusted,” an insider said.

“Nobody could believe what he said – he was clearly out to shock people.”

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A massive, seven storey ship that was once used as a luxury hotel in a Thai resort was deserted after reports of a curse and the apparent death of one of its workers

It was supposed to be a luxurious and unique destination in one of Thailand’s most beautiful areas, but a catalogue of disasters led to the downfall of an infamous hotel that locals believed was cursed.

The Galaxy looked like a huge cruise liner that had come aground on the unspoilt banks of the shore, but it was actually a seven storey structure its owner hoped would attract thousands of tourists.

Following its demise, it became a hotspot for urban explorers desperate to get inside the eerie ship – to discover what remained of the once glamorous interior for themselves.

One of these was US social media influencer Joshua T Yozura. He visited the site which lies seven hours south of Bangkok on Thailand’s third largest island, Koh Chang.

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The blogger shared his findings with his followers on his YouTube series, Exploring with Josh, where he explained the dark and mysterious history behind the abandoned ship.

It started out as a US Navy vessel before it was converted to a traditional Thai ship. A resident billionaire then bought the boat because his dream was to own a floating hotel. It was originally supposed to be located in Phnom Pen, Cambodia, but after that didn’t work out it was placed on Koh Chang instead.

The resort, which is now abandoned, sits deep in the jungle on a beautiful lagoon known as Koh Chang Lagoona. Back in 1998 it was popular with tourists who could stay in the impressive bungalows dotted about or on the ship which dominated the area.

The hotel sat on land next to a long untouched beach and swimming pools in the area were designed to look like a ship’s deck.

Originally the seven storey hotel and its 70 guest rooms were said to be the height of luxury with plush carpets, chandeliers and highly trained staff. When Josh visited the site, he witnessed a dilapidated wreck, with the once gleaming white exterior marked with streaks of brown rust.

The structure remained in the original plot, surrounded by palm trees and lush vegetation but there was a spooky silence in the deserted area. He and his crew had hoped to get inside the hotel to see what remained of the accommodation but they were followed by a man who told them to leave.

He explained that a variety of factors led to the failure of the impressive hotel. Its bad luck began when a Banyan tree was knocked down so the ship could sit in its location in the lagoon. This angered the highly religious and spiritual locals who believed the tree was sacred to the land, as were the elephants who could no longer roam freely. This was the moment that the hotel’s reputation of being cursed was born.

Josh revealed that apparently when the hotel was active a lot of workers and guests became sick, had falls and even died. “There’s a lot of legends and rumours that say people used to jump from the top of the ship to the bottom,” he said. “I can’t prove that online, it’s always up in the air with stuff like this. There was an article I read that a Russian guy actually got hurt and fell and died on the ship – it’s hard to say [if it’s true].”

As well as the spiritual ‘curse’, the hotel was doomed by its tropical location. The area, which was surrounded by water, was infested with mosquitoes. This led to Dengue fever and malaria and meant guests were fearful of staying there. It was also extremely humid and the ship was difficult to keep cool, which made for a very uncomfortable holiday.

When it eventually closed to staying guests in 2012 it was possible for a time to buy tickets to explore the ‘haunted’ relic with its many decks. However after the pandemic, the resort itself closed down because of lack of finances and tourism.

Then in December 2024 the ship mysteriously caught fire and was destroyed. It was left to smoulder before workers set about dismantling the top sections and removing materials for scrap. All that remains of the bizarre, ‘supernatural’ hotel is the charred hull and a wealth of folklore and legends.

EAGLE-EYED Strictly fans have been left baffled after spotting a live show shake up.

Tonight’s show was the Musicals Week special with Wicked star Cynthia Erivo acting as a guest mentor.

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Before the show started, pro dancer Julian Caillon shared a blurry picture of the running order.

But as the show got underway, Strictly viewers noticed that Karen Carney was moved from the fourth slot in the line up.

The former footballer was dancing a Cha Cha Cha to She’s a Lady from Miss Congeniality with her pro partner Carlos Gu.

She was supposed to perform after YouTube star George Clarke, but he was followed by Drag Race star La Voix instead.

The eagle-eyed viewers immediately took to X to question the change, with one writing: “I wonder why they changed order with Karen and Carlos and they weren’t in Clauditorium.

“Maybe some wardrobe problem.”

Another added: “why did we skip karen and carlos in the running order.”

In the end, Karen and Carlos performed seventh and scored 25 points.

However, things went a bit awry when it came to the scores, as Motsi Mabuse almost missed her cue.

Craig Revel Horwood started things off with a disappointing 4.

As he delivered it, Motsi seemed completely surprised as she cried ‘Oh no’, before turning to the back of the desk and scrambling around.

She managed to grab her seven paddle in the nick of time and gave her score.

At the end of the night, Karen found herself in the bottom half of the leaderboard, joint third from bottom with Vicky Pattison.

Meanwhile, former Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope topped the leaderboard after receiving the first 10 of the series – from Motsi – for his Paso Doble.

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Strictly airs Saturdays on BBC One and iPlayer.

What if you woke up one day and discovered your monthly income had shrunk to a tenth of what it used to be? That nightmare became the reality of Ibrahim Abdullahi, a phone repairer and PoS handler in Arewa Market, Abuja, North Central Nigeria. One minute, he had a booming recharge card-selling business; the next, his profit dwindled to a fraction of what it once was.

Ibrahim’s financial decline had nothing to do with his efficiency or work ethic. The market itself changed with the adoption of the virtual top-up (VTU) service between 2011 and 2013, enabling people to purchase data and airtime digitally via USSD, mobile banking applications, ATMs, and the web. Leading telcos such as MTN and Airtel first introduced the service. 

VTU quickly became mainstream, and by 2021, Ibrahim’s business had collapsed. 

“I used to sell about ₦100,000 worth of recharge cards in a day, but when people stopped buying paper recharge cards, I wasn’t able to sell up to ₦10,000 daily,” he recounted with eyes fixed on the phone he was repairing, as if any glance away might cost his income. 

But for people like Ibrahim, whose livelihood depended on the physical scratch cards, the change was devastating. Soon, as expected, the once-lucrative trade vanished, leaving sellers with lost profits even as they scrambled for alternatives. Three years ago, Ibrahim closed shop.

Across Nigeria, entire lines of work are being erased by new technologies, echoing a global trend.

The casualties 

Scratch-card sellers are not alone.

Wuraola Adebisi* used to be a call centre agent in the ‘90s. With low mobile-phone penetration, people depended on her service for communication and were charged per second. In 1999, she gained admission and left for tertiary education, hoping to return to the business afterwards.

However, even before she got her diploma, mobile telephony was introduced in 2001, ending the monopoly of Nigerian Telecommunications Limited, which was the sole provider of the common wired telephony, but also keeping call centre agents like Wuraola out of business. 

“The call centre business left by itself because people now had phones in their hands,” she said.

These changes, while detrimental to those who lose, are a natural part of the way the world evolves. A survey conducted by HumAngle in Nigeria also shows this trend: 15 per cent of respondents attributed their job loss to the advent of technologies such as artificial intelligence and banking digitisation.

Globally, this is not unusual. The World Economic Forum projects that 92 million jobs will vanish worldwide by 2030 as innovation reshapes economies. But it also projects 170 million new roles, highlighting that while some professions fade, others emerge.

“While tech evolution may render some jobs obsolete, it also unlocks new opportunities in emerging fields like digital entrepreneurship, virtual assistance, cybersecurity, data analysis, amongst others,” Ponfa Miri, Team Lead of Langtang Innovation Hub, a non-profit tech skills training institute based in rural Plateau State, told HumAngle. 

This balance between loss and opportunity is already visible in Nigeria.

When scratch-card sellers lost their jobs, business people across the country found alternatives via other digital-enabled businesses like PoS operations, where agents sell cash to consumers. There are about 1,600 PoS operators per square kilometre in the country, according to the International Monetary Fund.

“I switched to the PoS and phone repair business because it was digital,” said Ibrahim. 

Yet, it was not simply a random switch. For phone repairs, particularly with the rising diversity of smartphones, he needed to learn new skills. The HumAngle survey found that 79.3 per cent of respondents are learning at least one digital skill, with 33.3 per cent doing so solely to adapt. 

The challenge, then, is not only about jobs disappearing, but about who has the skills and access to compete for the new ones.

Inside the digital divide

This rapid adaptation has its limits. As of May, internet penetration reached 48 per cent, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission. However, this still leaves a majority without essential connectivity, which UNICEF identifies as the first step towards acquiring digital skills. In conflict-hit communities like Birnin Gwari in the country’s North West, telecom shutdowns have lasted for over three years. 

Not only are several left without internet, but many who have access to it complain that poor national connectivity hinders their ability to carry out their jobs properly. 

Telecom operators argue that the interruption or slow speed is sometimes caused by power shortages or vandalism of infrastructure by armed groups, locals, or construction companies. For everyday Nigerians, however, these explanations do little to ease the frustration. The impact is felt most by small operators who depend on steady connectivity to survive.

Blessing Adejoke*, another who shifted from scratch-card sales to PoS, said: “People don’t like it when they’re looking for money, and it takes a long time for the PoS machine to connect. It’s not always a big problem, but earlier this year I nearly lost a full day of making money because my machine refused to go online.”

Connectivity and power shortages weigh heavily on operators like Blessing and on millions trying to learn or work digitally. With over 89 million Nigerians living below the poverty line, opportunities in the digital economy remain largely out of reach for the poor and displaced, HumAngle’s survey found.

The consequences are visible in the unemployment rate. A Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) Group study showed joblessness climbed to 5.3 per cent in early 2024, marking the third consecutive quarter increase. Young people, entering the tech-driven job market for the first time, account for 8 per cent of that rise.

With such situations, privilege often determines access. 

Haruna Bello*, a recent graduate, credits her private-university education and paid digital skills training for securing an internship that pays more than the minimum wage. 

“Before I applied for the role, my mum paid for a private course to help me boost my CV. I don’t remember how much it cost, but it was over ₦60,000,” she said. 

Haruna believes that her lucrative role could only be obtained through private-funded efforts and expenses, two things many Nigerians can’t afford due to the growing poverty rate. The result is a massive employment disparity between the rich and the poor, where a larger percentage of Nigerians remain unemployed, hired in low-income positions, or running small-scale businesses. 

To reduce these notable issues, the government has set out to introduce programmes that may lessen the digital gap, but these have yet to be far-reaching.

Government’s shallow fixes

In 2023, Nigeria’s minister for communication, innovation, and digital economy, Bosun Tijani, launched the 3 Million Technical Talents (3MTT) Fellowship to equip 3 million Nigerians with tech talents within four years. The programme, which has held two cohorts, has trained about 117,000 people. In isolation, the number may seem grand, but in reality, it barely scratches the surface of the estimated 100 million Nigerians who are digitally illiterate. 

Authorities at the sub-national level have also attempted to bridge the gap. For instance, the Plateau State Government in 2019 launched Code Plateau, a programme similar to 3MTT, over 1000 young people were trained, but the initiative abruptly closed after a political transition.

With progress so limited and the rise of more advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, optimism quickly gives way to doubt. 

“Who Nigeria help?” Wurola laughed when asked about government aid. Our survey respondents feel the same way: 40 per cent said they need government support to compete in today’s job market. 

However, some experts say the government cannot do it alone. Non-profit and private initiatives, especially those at the grassroots, remain vital to Nigeria’s digital transition.

“By working together, we can bridge the divide and create a more inclusive future, empowering individuals to thrive in the new economy,” said Ponfa, whose organisation has trained hundreds of rural women and young people in digital literacy and entrepreneurship.

Whether or not those programmes are created or enhanced, one thing is certain: the labour ecosystem is ever-changing, and many will have to find ways to adjust to it if they hope to stay afloat. As Wurola puts it, “This is the tech age. We had the Stone Age, we had the Iron Age. So, this is the age of tech, you can’t beat it. This is where we find ourselves, whether good or bad.”

*Names marked with an asterisk have been changed to protect the identities of sources. 

MARRIED At First Sight fans were left baffled as intruder groom Reiss revealed his very strange requirement for his wife.

The painter and decorator revealed to the experts tonight what’s on his checklist when it comes to his future bride.

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But viewers were left confused when Reiss admitted he’s looking for a woman with a specific walk.

In his VT, Reiss said: “When people first meet me, they think I’m flash because of the looks. I consider myself to be a pretty boy.”

He continued: “If I was to go for a certain woman, I initially look at her teeth, her smile.

“I get a bit silly and I start looking into their walk, making sure they have a nice walk as well.

“A good walk for a woman is when they go one by one and not side by side.”

He then demonstrated using his fingers the type of walk he wants his wife to have.

But E4 viewers were left bemused by the requirement.

One wrote: “What did Reiss mean about a woman’s walk? The only way to do it is one foot in front of the other. It’s just a shuffle otherwise.”

A second posted: “WTF does Reiss mean about ‘I don’t like side by side walk’. He seems like a weirdo but was hoping he would be ‘nicer Steven’.”

A third said: “Hope Reiss demonstrates the crab walk he despises. I want to make sure I walk correctly.”

This person commented: “What the f*** is Reiss on about? How many women walk like crabs!?”

Someone else said: “Where the f*** did they get him from? At least I now know how to walk,” while this viewer posted: “Leisha better crab walk down that isle.”

“A good walk for a woman is legs going straight of each other one at the time and not side to side. Either the women where he comes from are constantly p***** or have s**t themselves,” another shared.

This person said: “She best walk down the aisle in an assertive…one foot in front of the other yet straight manner.”

While this viewer wrote: “Reiss seems to think he’s gods gift to women as long as they don’t walk like a crab…ok then.”

Another added: “How does he think women walk?”

Reiss, who owns his own painting and decorating company, said he loves to get his hands dirty and isn’t shy when it comes to grafting.

Reiss said: “I’m very close to my family, my nanny Linda is like an angel, she’s my rock. I love playing chess with her.

“My nan and granddad have had a romantic relationship for years, I’m hoping that’s what mine will be like.”

The Essex lad said he’s a romantic at heart and has learnt from the best – so is now ready to settle down.

Reiss, who previously dated Towie star Dani Imbert, also spoke about his most recent split.

He said: “I miss being in a relationship. You can’t really beat it.

“I don’t know if I’ve found the full package.

“I do choose the wrong girls. My last relationship unfortunately came to an end because the bickering became too much.

“I’ve been heartbroken in past relationships. When a girl leaves you, I feel abandoned and I just feel lost.

“Marrying a strange will work because I’ll do anything to find the perfect one.”

Yesterday, E4 viewers saw the pair meet for the first time at the altar.

Reiss could be seen turning around to greet Leisha, who was already laughing away.

The overexcited bride appeared to be too much for Reiss within the first few seconds.

In one scene, she can be seen bending her knees before screaming at the ground in excitment.

Reiss was seen looking on uncomfortably.

Speaking to the camera, Reiss voiced his concern as he said: “She’s 100 miles an hour.

“Let’s hope it doesn’t turn to 1000 miles an hour.”

Still clearly overexcited for her wedding day, Leisha said to the camera: “Buckle up because he’s in for a good ride.”

Ahead of the experiment, Reiss spoke out about his hopes for the show and the kind of bride he was hoping to marry.

His ideal bride is “someone blonde, petite with an element of glamour”

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